Posted: 3/29/2009 1:15:46 AM EDT
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I have a bunch of decent JHP's that are a few years old and I am curious to know just how long I can expect to use this stuff in my CCW guns. I have aroun 500 rounds of Black Hills 124grn +P Gold Dots that are about 3-5 years old. They have been stored in a closed but some have been loaded in magazines at some point or even possibly chambered. I also have a bunch of Ranger T with 05 head stamps that has also been loaded in various magazines with the occasional round chambered.
Is this stuff still safe/reasonable to use in a CCW gun, even if some of the rounds are scratched up and the boxes worn?  With the state of the market, I really can't afford more ammo. Then again, I can't afford a squib/failure eiether.
Thoughts? |
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I have a bunch of decent JHP's that are a few years old and I am curious to know just how long I can expect to use this stuff in my CCW guns. I have aroun 500 rounds of Black Hills 124grn +P Gold Dots that are about 3-5 years old. They have been stored in a closed but some have been loaded in magazines at some point or even possibly chambered. I also have a bunch of Ranger T with 05 head stamps that has also been loaded in various magazines with the occasional round chambered. Is this stuff still safe/reasonable to use in a CCW gun, even if some of the rounds are scratched up and the boxes worn? With the state of the market, I really can't afford more ammo. Then again, I can't afford a squib/failure eiether.
Thoughts? If ammo is bought new and stored right 40years CCW permitt holder for over 20yrs |
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I've shot everything from .22 rimfire through WWII British .303 to 40 year old 12 guage shotshells and .45 ACP ammo that came in a green and white Remington box with red lettering that advertised "Kleanbore" priming from the 1930s.
Never had a problem. Modern (post World War One) ammunition that is lead styphnate primed or even corrosive Potassium Nitrate primed lasts virtually indefinitely unless damaged in storage or exposed to extreme heat - like salvaged from a house fire. Or, unless the brass develops a crack. I have seen some damaged 7.62x54R Hungarian surplus where corrosive salts leaked out and ruined a few rounds inside a "spam can", but 99% of the rounds were fine It doesn't go bad under normal storage conditions. Cool, dark and dry are the buzz words for ammo storage. On that note, I have shot ammo stored in a shed or garage that has been through twenty years of freezing, summer heating and re-freezing cycles and NEVER had a problem. Ever. I've stocked up on 5.56mm and 7.62 NATO back when it was cheap and most of it is in sealed PVC plastic packs making them impervious to water and air. You can drop those packs in the bottom of a pond and fish them out five to ten years later (so long as there isn't an acid content in the water that will eat through the plastic) and everything will be fine so long as the plastic wasn't damaged. My best 5.56mm ammo is 1986 South African that AIM used to sell for $22 per 300 rd battle pack. I still have a "few thousand" rounds of that saved up and the BEST 7.62 NATO ever for an M-1A is the Portuguese NATO stamped ammo in the 200 rd dark green plastic battle packs. I bought those back when they were $109 for 1,000 rds! and still have three sealed cases that haven't even had the AIM Surplus cardboard box slit open yet. I've shot some of that with 1978 dates as recently as a week ago - stored in a garage from 2000 or 2001 and they (8 or 9 freezing and summer seasons) and they absolutely ONE HOLE the ten ring at 100 yards. If the ammo is ice-cold, you should thaw it out overnight at room temperature before shooting it. It will affect performance and firing reliability |
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Yeah, you should practise with your carry ammo from time to time, so every 6 months is a good turn around. When I rotate my ammo, I also rotate my carry mags. Best overall answer. Rotate the ammo, rotate the mags/check the springs, followers and feed lips. I reckon so. |
| I would say just check your mags every 6 months to a year or when you feel you need to as for ammo, as long as it has not gotten wet it should be good to go.. but my NRA instructor told me I should rotate my HD ammo once a year.. but it also depends on if you carry or if it is just for home defense. if its just been sitting in your house then it should be good till its shot.. |
| Sometimes when I buy ammo the primer has small amounts of yellowish/brownish stuff on it that flaked off with a butter knife. Sometimes I have bought new ammo with it on there and most of the time not. I have never had any problems with any of the ammo, just wondering what the goop around the primer is. And it is not rust or corrosion, I know that for sure. |
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Quoted: Sometimes when I buy ammo the primer has small amounts of yellowish/brownish stuff on it that flaked off with a butter knife. Sometimes I have bought new ammo with it on there and most of the time not. I have never had any problems with any of the ammo, just wondering what the goop around the primer is. And it is not rust or corrosion, I know that for sure. It's probably primer sealant. |